Creating a “Choice” for Excellence: Florida Charter School Conference in Orlando

By Dr. David B. Ross

Never before in the past 10 years has charter school reform been as popular as it is today. There have been many conferences and programs developed to meet the new challenges of charter schools. Even more precedent-making is the strong support being rendered to charter schools and its other stakeholders. The conference in Orlando provided a streamlined process to enable the participants with a vast amount of information to develop leaders and provide the tools needed to build success within their charter school(s).

During this conference [December 3-4, 2007], participants had the opportunity to partake in the opening and closing keynote sessions, breakout sessions, as well as attend roundtable discussions. The invited speakers for the morning session were Mr. T. Willard Fair, Chairman, Florida State Board of Education, and Dr. Eric Smith, Commissioner, Florida Department of Education. Other presentations in the open general session were the National Blue Ribbon Schools: USA Today’s 2007 All-USA Teacher Team Member, and the Pemayetv Emahakv Charter School: Seminole Tribe of Florida. Brian Carpenter, National Charter Schools Institute, during the closing general session, spoke about “No More Nailing Jell-O to Walls: Strategic Planning Made Clear for the Charter School Sector. Tanika Walton, Director of Walton Academy for the Performing Arts (WAPA) organized a student performance of an original song entitled, “I Am Somebody” and “I Believe I Can Fly.”

There were 23 breakout sessions and 24 round table discussions. Topics facilitated and discussed during the breakout sessions as well as at the round tables included technology, award programs, governance and legislature, children with disabilities, leadership and professional development, budgeting and funding, student achievement, recruitment, accountability, and accreditation. Dr. David Ross, Nova Southeastern University, conducted the round table for the “New Doctoral Minor Degree in Charter School Education/Leadership.” Dr. Ross was also joined by Katy Twist at the Nova Southeastern University (NSU) Exhibitor’s Booth. The exhibitor booth and the round table discussion gave conference participants a new perspective and interest of Nova Southeastern University. This conference was a great success to market NSU and its programs.